Approval rates
The 74% approval rate for Marilyn P. Hoppenfeld reflects all 73 decisions on record since 2016. This figure sits within the 49% to 85% range observed among the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Queens hearing office. These decisions provide a baseline for understanding the judge's historical pattern, though aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Hoppenfeld. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Hoppenfeld's docket. Annual rates fluctuate with the mix of cases SSA assigns; the longer-run pattern is more informative than any single year.
Decision pattern
The approval rate for Marilyn P. Hoppenfeld is based on 73 decisions on record starting in 2016. During that period, the judge maintained a 74% approval rate. Because the data window for this judge concludes in 2016, the pattern reflects a snapshot of that specific timeframe.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Hoppenfeld's bench. Judge-specific preparation guidance requires a corpus of public Appeals Council decisions involving each judge, which we haven't built yet.
- Bring a clean treating-physician record. Longitudinal primary-care or specialist notes spanning the disability period, with consistent symptom documentation, are typically the strongest evidence at hearing. A single month's records usually aren't enough.
- Don't rely on consultative exams alone. If your medical evidence is built primarily around a one-time CE finding, expect detailed questioning. Supplement with treating-source statements where possible.
- Prepare for daily-activity questions. Have honest, specific answers about a typical day. Answers that conflict with the medical record (in either direction) tend to hurt credibility.
- Expect transferable-skills probing. A vocational expert will usually testify about jobs available to someone with your limitations. Your representative should be prepared to cross-examine.
About the Queens hearing office
Marilyn P. Hoppenfeld's most recent office on record is the Queens hearing office. This office features a bench of 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can see the Queens hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Queens
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is effectively random. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Queens hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 49% to 85% on their since-2016 records. Of these, 6 judges decided cases here in the latest SSA file.
Approval rates change with a lawyer
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
Frequently asked questions
Marilyn P. Hoppenfeld has a 74% approval rate on record since 2016. This falls within the 49% to 85% range of the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Queens hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively for this specific bench.
The data for Marilyn P. Hoppenfeld covers the period from January 2016 to September 2016, during which the judge maintained a 74% approval rate. Because the record window is limited to this period, the rate is considered stable for that timeframe. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate how your case evidence aligns with these historical patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney is the best way to prepare for any hearing.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a guarantee of a future outcome. Marilyn P. Hoppenfeld approved 74% of the 73 decisions on record since 2016. Your specific medical evidence and work history are the most important factors in your case, and an attorney can help you organize them.
